Health News:

• Over 7 million Americans had gotten updated COVID shots as of Wednesday. (Reuters)
• Backpackers are learning the importance of washing their hands versus just using hand sanitizer after a noro outbreak on the Pacific Crest Trail. (Backpacker)
• A 10-person Campylobacter outbreak has been linked to raw milk in Utah. (CIDRAP)
• The new RSV shot is in such high demand that there are supply issues. (CBS)
• October is “the right time to get vaccinated” the CDC director says. (LA Times)
• A new study found that indigenous people were much more likely to contract severe COVID. (KUNC)
• A nasal spray COVID vaccine had promising results in a phase 1 clinical trial. (CIDRAP)
• Flu levels remain low worldwide and in the US, and COVID levels are relatively low, as well. (WHO)
• The Salmonella Newport outbreak from late August is over and was linked to an unknown source of watermelon and cantaloupe in the Midwest. (FDA)
• Paxlovid may reduce your risk of long COVID, but it’s not prescribed often. (NBC)
• Last year’s flu season was particularly severe for kids and teens. (CDC)
• Bird flu outbreaks hit two more US poultry farms. (CIDRAP)
• Vibrio, a rare flesh-eating bacteria, is moving into more northern waters. (KFF Health)

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Mental Health & Substance Use News: 

• California banned the “excited delirium” diagnosis as a cause of death after the AMA and APA rejected the term as non-scientific. It is often used to justify deaths in police custody. (KFF Health, NYT)
• Insurers often charge more for mental health coverage despite a federal law requiring coverage equal to other conditions. (Stateline)
• Another nasal spray opioid reversal drug called Opvee hit the market this week, a competitor to Narcan. (USA Today)
• The mental health crisis takes an uneven toll, weighing heaviest on disadvantaged and minority groups in the US.  (Axios)

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or need help, call 988 or message the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

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Best Questions:

What’s happening with the New Orleans salt water crisis? 

A long drought in the Mississippi Valley caused salt water from the Gulf of Mexico to come up the river - which is where New Orleans gets a lot of its drinking water. Salt water isn’t safe to drink, and it can corrode pipes and damage appliances. It’s a big deal because if the New Orleans water supply gets contaminated, it could be weeks or months before freshwater returns unless there’s a lot of rain (which isn’t expected).  President Biden declared it a national emergency. But there’s good news: the threat level is receding this week due to rainfall, and the Army Corps of Engineers pushed their estimates back by a month yesterday, now predicting that the salt water won’t reach New Orleans until late November. Some experts are hopeful that most of New Orleans’ water supply may not be affected at all. 

Sources: Nola.com, Army Corps of Engineers

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What can New Orleans restaurants and venues do to prepare for the salt water intrusion?

After a very low-tourism summer, in part due to extreme heat, restaurants and hospitality-related businesses are relying on fall tourism dollars and want to minimize business disruptions. First, we recommend contacting your plumber to discuss how salt water could affect your pipes and appliances. Next, you’ll need to think about how to get potable water. You can't boil or use a normal filter to get salt out of water. You can use reverse osmosis filters, which are installed under a sink and can filter salt out; some restaurants already have these installed. If you don’t or if you only have them on certain sinks, consider installing them, though they can be pricey. If that’s cost-prohibitive, or if there are certain areas where it’s not feasible, the next step is to purchase water tanks or large quantities of bottled water. Storage is key. We’ve heard of repurposing outdoor dining patios, courtyards, and even prep areas to fit water tanks. When and if the salt water wedge arrives, you may consider a limited menu with less water-reliant items, like ditching a boiled dish for a baked one. 

Source: Nola.com, EPA

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When should we get the updated COVID vaccine and flu shot?

You should get both shots by Halloween. While flu and COVID rates are still low, respiratory virus season generally picks up in November and peaks after the holidays. It takes a few weeks to ramp up protection, so getting your shots by the end of October means you’ll have full protection before the busy Thanksgiving travel week. An important exception is if you recently had a COVID infection, in which case most doctors recommend waiting at least three months (and as long as six or eight months) since you already have strong protection because your body just fought off the virus. 

Source: AP

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Best Read:

We Can Now See the Brain Like Never Before - WSJ

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